Bus Services

Description

Cumberland Council has secured £5 million in funding from the Department for Transport to drive significant improvements to local bus services. The Council held a workshop with bus operators on 27th February 2025 to further explore ideas to develop a more integrated sustainable bus service (and understand further the issues encountered in Phase I procurement). Cumberland Council's Highway & Transport Strategic Board has now approved to go out to market to procure the key bus services for Cumberland. Procurement of these services is due to commence in early August. We intend to procure suitably qualified transport operators to run subsidised scheduled bus service routes or enhance existing services as part of Cumberland's Bus Service Improvement Plan. Proposed New and Enhanced Services Include: NB: Some improvements will be changes to existing services and as such we will seek negotiate these with the existing operator. • Carlisle to Anthorn - Addition of peak journeys and a new Sunday service • Kirkbride to Carlisle - The reinstatement of a previous service including enhanced links for Cargo, Houghton, Rockcliffe and Currock Community Centre • Whitehaven to Ravenglass - New service connecting coastal communities • Carlisle to Cockermouth - Upgrade to hourly service supporting express link between Carlisle Hospital and West Cumbria Hospital and providing communities with better access to employment opportunities at Lillyhall. • Cockermouth - Lillyhall - Distington - West Cumbria Hospital - New service to support the express link between Carlisle Hospital and West Cumbria Hospital and providing communities with better access to employment opportunities at Lillyhall. • Carlisle to Hadrian's Wall - A tourism and rural connectivity boost • Cockermouth Town Buses - Return of local town service • Bootle - Millom via Ravenglass - New service connecting via Ravenglass including more connectivity for the M1 Millom • Cockermouth to Maryport - Service enhancements that includes peak journeys between Cockermouth and Maryport and a new Maryport and Dearham town service. • Whitehaven Town Loop - New North Eastern loop from Whitehaven Town Centre including Moresby Parks, Harras Moor and an improved 22 service connecting Cleator, Cleator Moor, Egremont and West Cumbria Hospital. • Carlisle - Longtown - Penton - Expanded rural coverage • Carlisle Durranhill/Carleton - New route serving Locke Road Surgery and Garlands • Wetheral - Carlisle - Dalston - Enhanced frequency • Frizington to Cockermouth / Workington - Return of a previous service • Continuation of services introduced in November 2024, including: • Silloth - Maryport • Maryport - Egremont - Thornhill • Maryport - Cleator Moor - Frizington • Workington - Carlisle